MARVEL: We’ll follow Your Lead, Shag
Shag introduces a Guardians of the Galaxy Print in Collaboration with Marvel, Sideshow…
“Star-Lord…”
Who?
“Star-Lord, man. Legendary outlaw?”
Peter Quill, Star-Lord, Guardians of the Galaxy
Josh Agle is Shag: You’ve Seen His Work
Earlier this year, when Shag introduced himself to a Comic-Con Museum crowd, he told the story of how — when fans introduce him — they explain, “You’ve seen his work.”
Which is true.
Shag’s art covers an amazing swath of American life — but his introduction (and that of Peter Quill’s in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) — segues well into his recent Marvel Cinematic Work, “We’ll follow your lead, Star-Lord.”
“We’ll follow your lead, Star-Lord”. Image: ©️&™️ Shag, Marvel
“That seems to be the common refrain when I’m meeting new people,” explained Shag at the February Q&A. Adding, “I’m known for colorful, vintage-inspired scenes, tiki bars, cocktail parties, Palm Springs, architectural scenes, bachelor pad fantasies…
“And, probably, outside of my own art, what I’m best known for is collaborating with Disney.”
Disney Doings
Yes, Shag quite often collaborates with Disney.
Disneyland. Image: ©️&™️ Shag, Disney
“I’ve worked with Disney for about 17-years,” added Agle. “They usually call me when they’re having an anniversary or something; for one of their attractions at Disneyland and they’ll engage me to create some artwork for that.”
However, the environs of Walt’s world in Anaheim is hardly the container for all of Shag’s cooperation with the various Walt Disney companies.
And recently, MickeyBlog.com posted about Shag’s collaboration with Lucasfilm and Geeki Tiki:
But, just a few hours after that piece debuted, Shag posted another Disney-related project: Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_WSvhBlDx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“How many of you watched ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and noticed the hidden Mickey Ears in the background of the scenes on Knowhere?” asked Shag via Instagram. “I’m pleased to announce a new print edition I did with @sideshowartprints, ‘Downtown Knowhere.’ This 18 color silkscreen print is signed and numbered by me and is an official Marvel release.
“Downtown Knowhere” is limited to 100 prints in this color way. A second edition of 100 prints in a different color scheme will be released later this year, for a total of 200 prints only.”
Shag Working With Stan
A nice coda to Shag’s new Marvel piece is another story from Comic-Con Q&A.
This time, Shag spoke about working with Stan.
Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame:
“Life is a Great Big Bang Up”. Image: ©️&™️ Shag, Marvel
This is a collaboration I did with Stan Lee; one of the last projects he worked on before he passed away. And he only had one request. He wanted to be put in the artwork. Just like his movies, you know? He wanted a cameo.
Image: ©️&™️ Shag.
So, I mocked this thing up, sent it to him… well, first I asked him what do you want me to do? And he said, “Do whatever you want to do.” [laughs] Well, thanks for the art-direction, Stan. So, I researched – and one of my big childhood pleasures was the Spider-Man cartoon. And I kind of wanted it to be based on the Spider-Man cartoon I had seen as a kid. And you all know the song, “Spider-Man! Spider-Man!” Then I had to research, which villains Stan had come up with. And I wanted to put my favorite villains that he had created into the picture, as well.
Image: ©️&™️ Shag.
And when I sent him my mock-up, he looked at it and said, “It’s great. Don’t change a thing.” And that was it. That’s how it is to work for Stan Lee, apparently.”
Shag and Stan. Image: ©️&™️ Shag.
Excelsior, Shag!
